The Next Two Weeks in the Senate are Crucial

Editor’s note: This piece was written by Jane Sheehan, Government Affairs Associate at Families USA, and was originally posted on Families USA’s blog on Thursday, June 15. Today, Tuesday, June 20 is a national call-in day to urge senators to reject their super-secret bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and slash Medicaid. Please call your senators today! We are grateful that several CHN members have provided toll-free numbers you can use:

Families USA: 1-866-426-2631

NEA: 1-855-764-1010

The next two weeks are critical. Senate leadership is seeking a vote on a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and drastically cut Medicaid by the end of the month. Since the House passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) in May, senators have been working behind the scenes on their version of the legislation, reported to be very similar to the unpopular House bill.

With the July 4 recess period approaching, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is eager to move the bill forward before senators go home to face their constituents.

Watch for a last-minute bait-and-switch as the Senate debates House bill, but votes on different bill

Republicans are trying to pass the bill with a simple majority, which is why they are using the fast-track budget reconciliation process to do it. Budget reconciliation requires 20 hours of debate on the Senate floor.

We are hearing rumors that the Senate leadership could begin debate on the House-passed version of AHCA and, at the last minute, swap in a substitute bill, providing little time for outside review and analysis.

Senate rules also require a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score of the new bill. We expect there will be a CBO score, but only at the last minute.

It is likely that senators and the public alike will have only a few hours to digest the CBO’s new evaluation before a vote occurs.

So what do we know about the Senate bill?

Without bill language, public hearings, or any substantial release planned of what is in the Senate proposal, it is especially crucial that lawmakers be held accountable for what they will vote on, on behalf of their constituents.

It is possible major ideas from the Senate bill will leak over the next few days and weeks, in which case the public should be prepared to analyze and respond. From what we’ve heard so far, we expect the Senate bill to be similar to the AHCA, comprising major Medicaid cuts, ending the Medicaid expansion, weakening of consumer protections including for people with pre-existing conditions, and massive rollbacks of enrollment.

The CBO estimated that the AHCA would leave 23 million more people uninsured. On top of coverage losses, through the restructuring of the Medicaid program, states have a lot to lose depending on what cap formula is chosen and their current Medicaid spending.

Though Leader McConnell and many Senate Republicans would like to hold a vote imminently and put this fight behind them, there are still details they must iron out. Between now and the July 4 recess, the public must weigh in on this effort. There’s no time to waste.

Individuals and groups should weigh in with their lawmakers now. Make calls, send emails, and go to rallies, especially in state events. Senate leadership only needs 50 votes to push their legislation through, and they are determined to push ahead.